Nitrogen management in forage oat (Avena sativa) under North Gujarat agro climatic conditions

A field experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi) seasons of 2013–14 to 2016–17 under North Gujarat Agro-climatic conditions at Sardarkrushinagar, Gujarat, to study the effect of nitrogen management on performance of forage oat (Avena sativa L.) at Sardarkrushinagar, Gujarat. Application of 140 kg N/ha resulted in significantly more tillers/plant (3.22), leaves/plant (10.98), leaf length (41.47 cm), leaf width (1.49 cm), green and dry fodder yield (58.25 and 10.29 t/ha) of oat crop over rest of the treatments, i.e. N₁ (80 kg N/ha) N₂ (100 kg N/ha) and N₃ (120 N/ha). The same treatment of N realized the maximum net monetary returns (53,444/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (2.58). Among the different time of nitrogen application treatments, 50% N basal and 50% N after the first cut i.e. 45 days after sowing (DAS), resulted in significantly more tillers/plant (3.03), green (51.79 t/ha) as well as dry (9.64 t/ha) fodder yields than 50% N basal + 50% N after 30 DAS and 50% N as basal + 25% N after 30 DAS + 25% after the first cut i.e. 45 DAS, and the maximum net returns (44,282/ha) and B:C ratio (2.32) was obtained by the treatment of 50% N as basal and 50% N after the first cut i.e. 45 DAS of oat crop.